I wanted to celebrate my friend’s car show. Taking on a huge task is always scary and a lot of work. It is easy to make excuses why one is not qualified or say it is just too much, but not my friend. Took on the challenge so proud of his accomplishment this month. He did say it was a lot of work but very satisfying. I am sure next year will be even bigger and better.
I mention him today because it is easy to dismiss when being called to take on a task. I set up my calendar for the month and realized just how over-committed I am. My friend was so successful because his focus was on one event, unlike me who is still scattered all over the place that I need to narrow my focus once again. I am not sure which person you more identify with, but my goal is to figure out my focus by the end of this month. Might end up being my New Year’s resolution. If this is you then you are in good company. If you are more like my friend then you are also in good company.
In my need to focus, I found two very interesting insights found in the Bible that I had not thought about before. It is always exciting when I learn something new which is why I am always dipping my attention in numerous topics. These two insights had me pause and I wanted to share what I learned this week.
First, I am taking classes through Patriot Academy and in one of the lessons there was a Rabbi who spoke on this resource:
https://wallbuilderslive.com/home-2/#
The Rabbi was speaking about energy and how barbarism is defined as “the collapse of a civilization and return to barbarism.” These green initiatives are barbaric. He states that barbarism hates energy. Then he goes on to say natural energy created by God like fossil fuels. He stated that we buy time through the use of energy which today we call economics. Everything that works in our homes and in the workplace is reliant on fuel. Even farmers rely on fuel to ensure crops flourish. Removal of fossil fuels will only destroy the economy, but is against the natural energy provided by our Creator.
He takes us back to Genesis where Adam and Eve eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. I have always been taught that God cursed Adam with hard labor and Eve with childbirth. In this context to be cursed meant “to express annoyance or irritation.” The speaker took a different approach. He argued that God allowed the consequences of Adam and Eve’s disobedience to take place, but He showed them mercy, forgiveness, and protection. They were going to be kicked out of the garden, but He didn’t just throw them out and wish them good luck. Barbarism strives to erode distinctions especially between a man and woman. But as God walked them out of the garden, He made garments of skin that were distinctively different. One kind for Adam and one kind for his wife, Eve.
“The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21).
He asked the question of how did God make the garments out of skins? He had to have shown them how to kill an animal and obtain the skins for clothing. He took time to prepare them before casting them out of the garden. He still gave them a special identity above all the animals and taught them to tend the land for crops. He also had to teach them how to make fire so they could bake bread to eat and protect themselves from animals. God passed down his recipe to make bread. All throughout the Bible bread is special as it represents the relationship between God and man.
Later, he gave man the intellect to take fire to make bricks to build with and what does man do? They seek to make the Tower of Babel. Today, we see man striving to remove fire and replace it with unnatural fuel and will only destroy our planet. Trying to replace God will never end well. Also today, man is trying to remove any distinction between man and woman. God created man and woman, so striving to become God’s by eliminating what God has created will never end well either.
Reread Genesis through the eyes of a merciful God who gave Adam and Eve provisions to live by along with all His sound advice. Adam and Eve were not cast out of the garden and forgotten. God walked with them outside of the garden. He kept his connection with them. He did not forsake them. So, today just know you are not forsaken either. He is a whisper away and will walk beside you all the days of your life like he did with Adam and Eve.
Prayers for anyone struggling out there or who needs support in whatever you are going through. Just know you are loved!
Perfect song by Danny Gokey, Brave, on this 9/11 day of memorial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jRZ5_j3GZE
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